It's not unique to Pixar. Many stories and so many films follow the Hero's journey: a common template of stories that involve a hero who goes on an adventure, is victorious in a decisive crisis, and comes home changed or transformed (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero%27s_journey).

The character needn't be a hero either, if you consider Dan Harmons story circle technique (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Harmon#"Story_Circle"_tech...):

1. A character is in a zone of comfort or familiarity.

2. They desire something.

3. They enter an unfamiliar situation.

4. They adapt to that situation.

5. They get that which they wanted.

6. They pay a heavy price for it.

7. They return to their familiar situation.

8. They have changed as a result of the journey.